The Maple Leafs have signed goaltender Joseph Woll to a three-year contract extension, the team announced Friday. The first year of the deal is a two-way contract, and over the final two years, it becomes a one-way deal.
In eight games with the Toronto Marlies this season, the 23-year-old Woll has held. a 3.32 goals-against average and .911 save percentage. In four games with the Maple Leafs, he held a 2.76 goals-against average and .911 save percentage while going 3-1-0.
In 55 career AHL games, Woll has held a 3.63 goals-against average and .889 save percentage.
Toronto picked Woll in the third round (at No. 62) in the 2016 draft.
(Photo: Bruce Bennett / Getty Images)
Expectations for Woll?
Joshua Kloke, staff writer, Toronto: Woll's NHL debut this season came ahead of schedule. He struggled to become a bonafide AHL starter in his two previous campaigns, posting an .892 save percentage in the 2020-21 season. But injuries gave Woll the runway to try his hand in the NHL and, all things considered, he did just fine, earning three wins in four games.
He's a mature, grounded goalie, and that he kept his head above water would suggest that he is capable of more NHL games in the future. That he will be on a two-way contract for the 2022-23 season suggests he'll spend that season furthering his development in the AHL. Should he learn to anticipate shots better and improve his reads, he could then be in contention for a backup job from 2023 onwards. Getting that from Woll would be considered a win for the Leafs.
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How does this move impact the Leafs' cap?
Kloke: Not seriously, at all. The contract carries an AAV of $766,666.
If Woll doesn't show the necessary development in his game, his contract can easily be buried in the minors with little ramification to their salary-cap picture. But should he succeed in becoming the Leafs' backup goalie, they suddenly will have a very cheap option in goal.
It's a low-risk move from the Leafs. An optimistic take here is that if Woll does succeed, his low cap hit could potentially allow the team to allocate much more money on their starting goalie.
